Minor Axis Powers
Signed The Tripartite PActA few other, minor nations also signed the Tripartite Pact: Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia (all Balkan nations).
HungaryOn November 20th, 1940, under pressure from Germany Hungary signed the Tripartite Pact, allying itself with the Axis Powers. Hungary was a strongly nationalistic country and had long had close ties with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, but had not wished to enter the world war. The nation had also benefit greatly from its earlier informal alliance with Axis in territorial disputes, because no minor nation wanted to offend two great powers.
RomaniaOn November 23rd, 1940, Romania signed the Tripartite Pact joining the Axis Alliance. Romania hoped that if it supported Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union would be removed as a threat to its borders and North Transylvania would be returned. The government had also been under threat from fascist organizations and hoped an alliance with the Axis powers would appease them. In turn, Germany wanted to control Romania's rich oilfields, which were essential to keeping his tanks up and running.
BulgariaOn March 1st, 1941, Bulgaria joined the Axis in exchange for territory in Greek Thrace and exemption from the invasion of the Soviet Union. Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria had felt his country would benefit most from an alliance with Nazi Germany and had aided the Axis in preparing for the invasion of Greece before he officially signed the Tripartite Pact
YugoslaviaOn March 25th, 1941, Yugoslavia allied itself with the Axis Powers. Two days later, the old government was overthrown and the new tried to back out of the Tripartite Pact. Hitler was so offended that he invade the nation to express his outrage.
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Co-belligerentSome nations never signed the Tripartite Pact, but aided the Axis all the same. Some signed different treaties; others were "co-belligerents."
FinlandIn 1941, Finland informally allied itself with the Axis Powers in the fight against the Soviet Union. The nation wanted to get revenge on the Soviets for invading them during the Winter War, but did not wish to sign the Tripartite Pact.
IraqIn May 1941, Iraq temporarily allied itself with the Axis against the United Kingdom and fought a war in the Middle East with the British possession there. This war was called the Anglo-Iraqi War.
ThailandOn January 25th, 1942, Thailand became a formal ally of Japan. The nation never signed the Tripartite Pact, but involuntarily aided the Axis by attacking French Indochina to regain lost territory.
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